Daniel lynch



(No Model.)

D. LYNCH. UAR STARTER.

Patented. Aug. 30, 1887.

' Y @ina/ ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL LYNCH, OF MINERVA, NEW YORK.

CAR-STARTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,116, dated August 30, 1887.

' Application filed December 18, 1886. Serial No. 221,948. A(No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL LYNCH, of Minerva, in the county of Essex and State of New York, have invented anew and Improved Car-Starter, of which-the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to car-starters, and has for its object to provide asi'mple and effective apparatus of this character, which may be readily'controlled by the driver at either end of a car, and so as to start the car either forward or backward, as maybe required.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts of the car-starter, all as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional elevation of the lower part of a street-railroad car with my improved car-starter attached. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the principal parts of the Carstarter'mechanism. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View showing the connection of the spring-tension 'band with the barrel on one of the friction-wheel shafts; and Fig. is avertical sectional elevation of the starter-spring, its barrel or case, and attached ratchet-wheel.

Thecar-bod y A is supported on wheels B C, xed to axles b c, journaled in boxes b c', respectively, on the car-frame.

To the axle b of the wheels Bthere is xed a friction-drum, D, against which frictionwheels E F, fitted in a frame, G, are adapted to act. This frame G is pivoted at points adjacent the meeting peripheries ofthe wheels E F in hangers or brackets H, fixed to the carframe or convenient support, allowing either of the wheels E F to be brought into contact with the drum by swinging the frame on its pivots. .The upper friction-wheel, E, is journaled directly in the side bars of the frame G, and the lower friction-wheel, F, is journaled in boxesf, which are adapted to move in vertical slots made in the frame, and screws f', 5o threaded into the frame, provide a means of pressing the wheel F against the wheel E, to

assure turning of one of the wheels by the other when either wheel is turned by the drum.

On the shaft e of the friction-wheel E there is fixed a barrel, I, to which is connected one end of a band or belt, J the other end of which is secured to the periphery of a case or barrel, L, within which a coiled spring,-K, is tted. The case L is j ournaled on a shaft, Mixed in a hanger, M, pendent from the car-body. One end of the sp ring K is fixed to the shaft Land its other end is fixed to the case L, which has fixed to it a ratchet-wheel, N, with which a dog, O, pivoted in a hanger fixed to the car-body,is adapt. ed to engage to prevent unwinding ofthe spring until the dog is tripped by devices presently described. The connection of the band J with the barrel I at j is such as will allow the band to wind in either direction on the barrel. (See Fig. 4 of the drawings.)

To the top of the pivoted friction-wheel frame G there are connected two rods, P R. The rod P extends to one end of the car, and is connected pivotally with a lever-socket, S, at a point above the fulerum e of said socket, and the rod R extends to the other end of the car, where it is connected pivotally with a lever-socket, T, at a point below the fulcrum't of said socket. These oscillating sockets S T are pivoted or fulcrumed in suitable brackets or hangers fixed beneath the outer parts of the car-platforms am', respectively, and are adapted to receive a lever-bar, U,which may be transferred to either socket to be handled by the driver of the car, and because of the connection of the rods P R to the respective sockets S T, above and below the pivots of the sockets, the same movements of the lever at either end ofthe car will have like effects in swinging the frame G for controlling the contact of the friction-wheels E F with the axle-drum D, as presently explained.

The dog or pawl O has an upwardly-proj ecting tail-piece or stem, o,which stands between lugs o 'u on a bar, V, lwhich is fitted to slide in lug-bearings o o', xed to the car-body, and

chains W' X, fixed to opposite ends of the bar V, extend to opposite end platforms of the car, and are connected to reversely-arranged elbowlevers Y, which are fulcru med to the car-frame, and are adapted to be turned by downward movement of plungenrods Z, which are fitted IOO for vertical sliding movement in the car-platforms, and are normally forced upward by springs z, acting between foot-plates attached to the levers and the platforms.

A suitable casing, ai, is provided for covering up the lever-socket and adjacent plungerrod at the rear end of the car, while the lever U is adjusted in the socket at the front or opposite end of the car. The casing a'l prevents the accidental or malicious operation of the lever-socket and plunger-rod which it covers.

The operation is as follows: I will suppose the ear is adjusted for traveling forward in direction of arrow l in Fig. l of the drawings. \Vhen it is necessary to stop the car, the driver on the platform a will push the lever U in socket S from him. This will swing the frame G and carry the lower friction-wheel, F, againstthe friction drum D, which is rotating in direction of the arrow 2, and thereby cause the friction-wheel E to turn in like direction and turn thebarrel 1, fixed to its axle e, thereby winding the band J on the barrel and putting the spring K in tension to store up power, and the dog O will engage the ratchet N, to prevent recoil of the sprin g. The friction induced by the contact of the wheel F and drum D and the resistance offered by the spring K will together operate as a brake to stop the car, while the power for starting the car is at the same time stored up in or by the spring. When the ear is to be started, the driver will press down the plunger Z with his foot as he starts the horses, and this movement will operate the elbow-lever Y to draw on the chain XV and bar V and trip the dog O from the ratchet-wheel N on the spring-barrel L, thus releasing the spring K, and just prior to depressing the plunger, or about at the same time, the driver will pull the lever U toward him, which will bring the friction-wheel E in contact with the car-axle drum'D, so that as the spring K recoils thebaud Jwill be rewound onto the spring-casing L and will be .nnwonnd from the barrel I, and the direct pressure of the wheel E on the drum D will turn the axle b and car-wheels B B forward, and thereby start or assist in starting the ear. If in starting the car it is desired to back it, the recoil of the spring K may be utilized to effect this by holding the lever to keep the friction-wheel F in contact with the drum D, and whereby, as the released spring turns the barrel I and wheel E, the wheel F will have effect to turn the drum D and wheels B B backward to back the ear. 'Vhen the driver stands on the other end platform, a', of the car, which is then travcling in direction of the arrow 3, the lever U, then set into the socket T, will be pushed outward to bring the friction-wheel F in contact with the frictiondrum D to stop the ear and put the spring K in tension, and a reversal of movement of the lever when the dog O is tripped by depressing the plunger Z at the platform c will carry the wheel E against the drum D, to utilize the recoil of the spring for starting t-he car. It will be understood that as the car-wheels B and drum D now move in direction of the arrow 4t the band J will be wound upon the barrel I from its under side or face when the spring is put in tension, instead of from its upper side, as it does when the car is traveling in the other direction. When the car is moving in direction of the arrow 3, it may be started backward by simply holding the lever B to continue the contact of the friction-wheel F with the drum D in substantially the same manner as when the car is moving the other way. As the band J may wind upon the barrel l in both directions, it is obvious that the car will be started forward in either direction by bringing either ol' the friction-wheels E F into contact with the axledrum D, and then reversing the motion of the lever U to bring the other ofthe two frictionwheels into contact with the drum.

The importance of arranging the leversock ets orlevers ST,with their fulcrums,one above and the other below the points of connection with them of the rods which vibrate the frietion-wheel frame will be understood when it is considered that this arrangement allows or causes the same movements of the lever-sock ets and lever at either end of the ear for starting the car forward or backward when travcling in either direction; hence a driver of ordinary-intelligence may without confusion of thought or action operate the mechanism to apply the brake and to start the car.

It is obvious that the starter mechanism, including the frictiondrum and wheels and a device for storing up power as Vthe ear is stopped, may be applied to bobtail cars traveling usually in one direction, and in this case the rod, chain, and lever-connections will extend to one end of the car only.

Parts of my invention are adapted for use with devices other than a spring connected to one of the friction-wheels and adapted to store power by contact of one of the friction-wheels with the drum in stopping the car.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a ear starter, the combination, with a car-axle and a drum thereon, of a pivoted frame adjacent to the drum, friction-wheels journaled in the said frame and in frictional contact, a barrel on the axle of one of the frictional wheels, a spring-casing suspended from the under side of the car, a band connected to the said casing and to the barrel on the frictionwheel, and means for operating the pivoted frame and for holding and releasing thespringcasing, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. Ina Carstarter, the combination, with a friction-drum fixed on one of the car-axles, of a frame centrally pivoted about in the plane of the axle, two friction-wheels journaled in the frame and in frictional contact, a barrel on the axle of one wheel, a spring-case provided with a ratchet and dog, a band connected to said case and to the barrel on the friction-wheel axle, a lever at each end of the car, and connections from said levers to the friction-wheel frame, a tripping device for the dog, and devices for operating the tripping device from either end of the car, all constructed and arranged for operation substantially as herein set forth.

3. In a car-starter, the combination,with the car-axle b, `of a drum, D, fixed thereto,a frame, G, pivoted to the car next the drum, frictionwheels E F, journaled in said frame and in frictional contact, a barrel, I, on the axle of the wheel E, a spring device, K L,and ratchet N, a dog, O, engaging said ratchet, a band, J, connected to the barrel I and spring-casing L, a lever, as S U, fulcrurned on the car, a rod, as'P,`connecting said lever to the frame G,and a device for tripping the dog to release the spring K,substantially as described, for the purposes set forth. l

4. In a car-starter, the combination, with the.caraxle b, of a drum, D, fixed thereto, a frame, G, pivoted to the car next the drum,

`friction-wheels E F, journaled in said frame and in frictional contact, a barrel, I, on the axle of wheel E, a springA device, K L, andl ratchet N, a dog, O, engaging said ratchet, a band, J, connected to the barrel Iand springcase L, a lever, as S U, fulcrumed on the car, a rod, as P, connecting said lever to the frame G, a bar, V, fitted to trip the dog from the ratchet, an elbow-lever, Y, pivoted to the car, a chain, W, connecting the elbow-lever to the bar V, and a plunger, Z, connected to the elbow-lever and adapted when depressed to trip the dog 0 from the ratchet N,-substantially as described, for the purposes set forth. 5. In a car-starter, the combination, with the car-axle b, of a drum, D, fixed thereto, a frame, G, pivoted to the car next the drum, friction-wheels E F, journaled in said frame and in frictional contact, a barrel, I, on the axle of wheel E, a springdevice, K L, and ratchet N, a dog, O, engaging said ratchet, a

band, J, connected to the barrel I and spring case L, a lever-socket, S, fulcrn-med at one end of the car,a rod, l?, connecting said socket above its fulcrum s with the frame G, a leversocket, T, fulcrumed at the other end of the car, a rod, R, connecting said socket below its fulcrum t with the frame G, a bar, V, fitted to slide on the car and provided wit-h lugs o v, adapted to trip the dog O, lchains W X, connected to opposite ends of the bar V, elbowlevers Y Y, fulcrumed at opposite ends of the car, and plu ngers Z Z, connected to the levers Y Y, and adapted when depressed to trip the dog O from the ratchet N, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a car-starter, the combination, with the car-axle b, a drum, D, fixed thereto, a frame, G, pivoted to the car next the drum, friction-wheels E F, journaled in said frame and in frictional contact, and lever-sockets or levers, as S T, fulcrnnled at opposite ends of the car, of rods I R, connecting said parts S T- at points above and below their fulcrums s t, respectively, with the oscillatory frame G, substantially as shown and described, whereby the saine movements of the lever-sockets or levers will have like edect in swinging the frame to set its friction-wheels to the axledrum, as set forth.

7 In a car-starter, the combination, with a friction drum and wheel mechanism adapted to stop the car by contact of a friction-wheel with the axle-drum, and a spring-tension device, as at K L, a ratchet, N, connected thereto, and a dog, O, engaging the ratchet, of abar, V, having lugs o o, adapted to trip the dog from the ratchet as the bar is moved endwise, and connections from opposite ends of the bar V to a plunger or treadle device at each end of the car adapted to trip the dog when depressed by the driver, substantially as shown and described.

- DANIEL LYNCH. Witnesses:

HENRY L. GOODWIN,

C. SEDGWIOK. 

